Fire-escape



(No Model.)

L. J. GOTT.

FIRE ESCAPE.

Patentd Mar. 25, 1884.

WITNESSES 11W ENTOR TT0R EYS UNITED. STATES.

PATENT OFFICE...

LAURA J. GO'IT, on LA- GRANGE, OHIO.-

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION formingipart of Letters Patent No. 295,631, dated March 25, 1884 Application filed January 31, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAURA J ANES Gorr, of La Grange, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to fireescapes, the object being to provide a light frame or cage suspended by a coil-spring and provided with cranks, by means of which, in case of fire, persons may lower themselves to the ground by uncoiling the spring, and the frame, when released of the weight of the person, will, by

the recoil of the spring, be raised automatically to the starting-point above, tion to receive another fugitive.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of a building with. my improved fire-escape attached, showing the manner in which it is used. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the fire-escape and a portion of the spring. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same.

'A represents a light metal frame, preferably of small. tubing or steel, and of sufficient strength to support one person. A shaft, B, is journaled in suitable boxes attached to the and in posisides of the frame and provided at each end with a crank, b. Midway'of the shaft is a sprocketdrum, 0, around which is coiled the spring D, the end of which is secured to the drum. The spring is coiled around and fastened to the drum 0 in the same manner that a clock-spring is coiled around its spindle, and is provided with the slots 0, that embrace the sprockets cl. If preferred, the slots in the spring and the sprockets maybe omitted. The upper end of the spring may have a loop or other means for attaching it to a hook or other suitable device above the window or other place of exit where the fire-escape is intended to operate, and in such position that persons may step on the cross-piece a, forming the bottom of the frame, and by grasping the cranks may steady and lower themselves safely to the ground. As soon as the device is released of the weight of the person,

the spring by its recoil will Wind itself around the drum and raise the frame to the startingpoint. A person may lower himself from a high building in a few moments, and the return'of the device is very rapid, so that any number of persons may escape in quick suc- 5 cession. The stiffness of the spring sustains a part of the weight of the descending person, and the smallness of the drum on which the spring is wound, as compared with the sweep of the crank, renders it easy to govern the speed of the descent.

This device is'simple, cheap, and effective, and may be always at hand in time of need.

What I claim is 1. In a fire-escape, pended by a coiled spring secured to an axle provided with a crank, by means of which persons may lower themselves from a building, and so arranged that the device will be raised to the starting-point by the recoil the spring, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fire-escape, the combination, with the frame A, the shaft B, and attached sprocket-drum and cranks, of the spring D, provided with slots adapted to engage the said 75 sprockets, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 22d day of January, 1884.

LAURA J. eorr. Q

WVitnesses:

ALBERT E. LYNCH, CHAS. H. DORER.

a frame or cage sus- I 

